“For too long, this dark period in our nation’s history has been swept under the rug,” said Begich. “It is long past time that we honor the legacy of those brave Alaska Natives who were taken away from their ancestral homelands and way of life. This bill will help make certain we don’t forget our history and learn from those mistakes.”

The five Southeast Alaska relocation sites are at Funter Bay, Burnett Inlet, Killisnoo, Ward Lake and the Wrangell Institute. An estimated 75 Aleut villagers died of illness during two years of internment at these locations.

This legislation, introduced Thursday, does not authorize the acquisition of any lands by the NPS. Any sites acquired in the future could only be purchased from willing sellers.

The legislation has the support of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (AIPA).

“The Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association supports efforts for the conservation and management of the WWII Aleut Internment Sites,” said APIA President and CEO Dimitri Philemonof. “Sharing this significant story distinguishes the sacrifices made for our Nation’s defense during the struggle of war.”